Full Day Family Fishing Trip in Galveston
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday family fishing adventure targeting multiple species inshore and offshoreCaptain Joel Taylor provides all equipment and expert guidanceAccommodates up to 4 guests from March through September
Captain Joel Taylor knows Galveston waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to show your family why this stretch of Texas coast is a fishing paradise. This 8-hour adventure combines the best of both worlds—calm inshore waters perfect for teaching kids the basics, plus the option to venture offshore when conditions are right. You'll have shots at everything from schooling Redfish in the shallows to hefty King Mackerel cruising the blue water. All gear comes included, so just bring your crew and get ready for some serious fish catching from March through September.
Your day starts early with Captain Joel going over the game plan and getting everyone comfortable with the gear. The beauty of this trip is its flexibility—we'll read the conditions and fish accordingly. If the wind's light and the family's feeling good, we might push out to the deeper structure where the big Kings and Mahi hang out. When it's better to stay protected, the inshore grass flats and shell reefs hold plenty of Reds and Trout to keep everyone busy. The boat's set up with all the safety gear families need, and Captain Joel's got a knack for keeping kids engaged while teaching proper fish handling techniques. With only 4 anglers max, everyone gets personal attention and plenty of rod time.
We'll be running both live bait and artificial setups depending on what's working best. Inshore, expect to work with medium spinning tackle loaded with shrimp, finger mullet, or soft plastics around the grass beds and oyster reefs. The water's typically 3-8 feet deep, so you can actually see the fish you're targeting—kids love watching Redfish cruise the flats. When we head offshore, we'll switch to heavier conventional gear for trolling and bottom fishing. Circle hooks keep everything fish-friendly, and Captain Joel's got the technique dialed in for quick, clean releases. The electronics on board help locate bait schools and structure, but half the fun is learning to read the water and spot feeding activity on the surface.
King Mackerel are the offshore stars here, with fish ranging from 15-40 pounds showing up consistently from April through August. These speed demons hit trolled baits hard and put up a serious fight that gets everyone's adrenaline pumping. They're perfect for teaching kids about drag settings and proper fighting technique. Mahi Mahi, or Dolphinfish as the locals call them, are the most colorful catch you'll encounter—brilliant yellows and greens that flash in the sunlight. They travel in schools around floating debris and weed lines, usually weighing 5-15 pounds with occasional bulls pushing 30. What makes Mahi special is their acrobatic fighting style and excellent table fare.
Inshore, Redfish are the bread and butter species that make Galveston famous. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallow flats year-round, with prime time hitting during spring and fall migrations. They're perfect for beginners because they eat a variety of baits and fight hard without jumping. Sea Trout provide consistent action in the same areas, especially around dawn and dusk. They're more finicky than Reds but reward anglers with delicate bites and beautiful spotted flanks. Cobia are the wild card species—these brown sharks-look-alikes show up randomly but provide some of the strongest fights pound-for-pound. They're curious fish that often follow the boat, giving kids a thrill when one surfaces nearby.
This family-friendly charter fills up fast during peak season, especially weekends and holidays when everyone's looking to get on the water together. Captain Joel's reputation for putting families on fish while keeping things safe and educational makes this one of Galveston's top-rated fishing experiences. Whether you're introducing kids to saltwater fishing or looking for a multi-generational adventure that everyone can enjoy, this 8-hour trip delivers the variety and excitement that creates lasting memories. The season runs March 7 through September 1, so start planning your Texas coast fishing adventure today.
Step aboard our 26' Tiara center console boat and get ready for some serious fishing action in Galveston's productive waters. This beauty runs on a reliable 200 HP Mercury engine that'll get your crew of up to 4 anglers to the fish quickly and safely. The boat comes loaded with everything you need - GPS to navigate the best fishing spots, a fish finder to locate schools below, and a VHF radio for safety. Keep your catch fresh in the built-in icebox while the live bait tank ensures your bait stays lively all day long. Whether we're working the inshore flats for redfish and trout or heading out to deeper water for kings and mahi, this rig handles it all with room to move around and fight fish comfortably.
Rachycentron CanadumThese brown, shark-looking fish are loners that can reach 6 feet and 100+ pounds, making them one of the most challenging targets we encounter. Cobia cruise around buoys, oil rigs, and wrecks in 30-70 feet of water during spring and summer. What makes them exciting is the sight fishing - we actually spot them swimming near the surface before casting. They're curious but spooky, often following the boat before deciding whether to bite. When they do hit, expect a powerful fight from an aggressive predator. The payoff is premium table fare with firm, white meat that rivals any restaurant fish. My best advice: when you see one, stay calm and make your first cast count because you might not get a second chance with these wary fish.
Scomberomorus CavallaThese fast-swimming predators average 30 pounds but can hit 90+ pounds, making them one of the Gulf's premier gamefish. We find them in 40-150 foot depths around structure and current breaks from late spring through early fall. Kings are aggressive hunters that'll slam trolled baits and spoons at high speed - the strike alone gets everyone's adrenaline pumping. Their razor-sharp teeth and blistering runs make for memorable fights that test both tackle and angler. The meat's rich and flaky when fresh, though higher mercury means it's catch-and-release for pregnant women and kids. Pro tip: always use a wire leader and keep multiple hooks on live bait since they love attacking from behind.
Coryphaena HippurusWhen conditions allow us to head offshore, mahi mahi are the prize everyone hopes for. These colorful fighters average 15-29 pounds and put on an amazing light show of blues, greens, and golds when hooked. We target them around floating debris, weed lines, and current breaks in deeper water during spring and summer months. What makes mahi special is their acrobatic fight - they jump, tail-walk, and make sizzling runs that get the whole boat excited. The bonus is some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with firm, white meat that's perfect for grilling. They travel in schools, so when we find one, there's usually more around. My trick: always have a second rod ready because where there's one mahi, others are likely nearby.
Sciaenops OcellatusThese copper-colored fighters with the distinctive black eyespot are what Gulf Coast fishing is all about. Most run 20-35 inches in our shallow bays and marsh edges, cruising water so thin their backs sometimes show. Peak action happens during warmer months when they're feeding aggressively on crabs and shrimp around oyster bars and grass flats. What makes reds special is their bulldog fight - they'll strip drag and make powerful runs that surprise first-time anglers. Plus, they're curious fish that often follow the boat, giving kids great sight-fishing opportunities. The meat's sweet and firm, perfect for blackening. Here's my local secret: look for nervous water and mullet jumping - that usually means hungry reds are pushing bait.
Salmo TruttaAlso called speckled trout, these spotted beauties run 14-24 inches and make up the backbone of our inshore action. You'll find them over grass flats and around oyster reefs in 2-8 feet of water, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. They hit soft plastics, topwater plugs, and live shrimp with enthusiasm, making them perfect for families and kids learning to fish. The fight's not overpowering but they're scrappy enough to keep things fun. What really makes them special is the excellent table fare - white, flaky meat that's milder than most saltwater fish. My go-to trick: work a shrimp-colored jig slowly along the bottom during moving tides for consistent bites.
Galveston